By James Atkinson
The Independent Brands Australia (IBA) Trade Workshop closed yesterday following a gala dinner on Wednesday night to award the group’s leading retailers and Supplier of the Year.
Cellarbrations at Brighton in South Australia was named IBA’s National Retailer of the Year, following an exhaustive judging process that arrives at 40 finalists nationally from the 2400-plus retailers in the Cellarbrations, IGA Liquor and The Bottle-O banner groups.
The 40 finalists are judged by IBA national operations manager, Craig Yaupaung, along with two nominated suppliers, in this case Lion and Brown-Forman.
IBA general manager – sales and merchandise, Jon Fernandes, told TheShout Cellarbrations at Brighton has all the elements of a fantastic retail experience for customers, including a modern fitout, extensive range of premium wine, optimal coolroom and very approachable staff.
“It was one of only a few stores that scored a 100 per cent rating with our mystery shoppers, which is a testament to the store,” he said.
Lion was named Supplier of the Year, an award that is judged by IBA retailers based on their experience of their own individual field representative.
The full list of winners is below.
National Overall Winner
NATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Brighton
Store Suburb, State: Brighton, SA
Store Manager: Tim Rugless
National Brand Winners
NATIONAL CELLARBRATIONS RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Brighton
Store Suburb, State: Brighton, SA
Store Manager: Tim Rugless
Store Name: Ashcroft’s Supa IGA Orange
Store Suburb, State: Orange, NSW
Store Owner: Ian Ashcroft
Store Name: The Bottle-O Royal Hotel Goondiwindi
Store Suburb, State: Goondiwindi, QLD
Store Owner: Mick O’Shea
SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR 2014
Name: Lion
BUSSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OF THE YEAR 2014
Name: Matthew Donegan
State: Victoria
SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR 2014
Name: Andrew Lemon
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Brighton
Regional Winners (x 4 Total)
NORTHERN REGION RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: The Bottle-O Royal Hotel Goondiwindi
Store Suburb, State: Goondiwindi, QLD
Store Owner: Mick O’Shea
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Scone
Store Suburb, State: Scone, NSW
Store Owner: Shane & Tanya Madden
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Bacchus Marsh
Store Suburb, State: Bacchus Marsh, VIC
Store Owner: Dion Miles
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Safety Bay
Store Suburb, State: Safety Bay, WA
Store Manager: Luke Matthews
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Brighton
Store Suburb, State: Brighton, SA
Store Manager: Tim Rugless
Regional Brand Winners
Northern Region
NORTHERN REGION CELLARBRATIONS RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: Cellarbrations at The Melbourne Hotel
Store Suburb, State: West End, QLD
Store Owner: Luke Madden
NORTHERN REGION THE BOTTLE-O RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: The Bottle-O Royal Hotel Goondiwindi
Store Suburb, State: Goondiwindi, QLD
Store Owner: Mick O’Shea
Eastern Region
EASTERN REGION CELLARBRATIONS RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Scone
Store Suburb, State: Scone, NSW
Store Owner: Shane & Tanya Madden
Store Name: The Bottle-O North Haven
Store Suburb, State: North Haven, NSW
Store Owner: Shane & Tanya Madden
Store Name: Ashcroft’s Supa IGA Orange
Store Suburb, State: Orange, NSW
Store Manager: Ian Ashcroft
Southern Region
SOUTHERN REGION CELLARBRATIONS RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Bacchus Marsh
Store Suburb, State: Bacchus Marsh, VIC
Store Owner: Dion Miles
SOUTHERN REGION THE BOTTLE-O RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: The Bottle-O Sanctuary Lakes
Store Suburb, State: Sanctuary Lakes, VIC
Store Owner: Jaspal Singh
Store Name: Michael’s Supa IGA Korumburra
Store Suburb, State: Korumburra, VIC
Store Owner: Michael Lorenz
Western Region
WESTERN REGION CELLARBRATIONS RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Safety Bay
Store Suburb, State: Safety Bay, WA
Store Manager: Luke Matthews
WESTERN REGION THE BOTTLE-O RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: The Bottle-O Willetton
Store Suburb, State: Willetton, WA
Store Owner: Shannon Cant
WESTERN REGION IGA LIQUOR RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: Pearsall IGA Liquor
Store Suburb, State: Pearsall, WA
Store Owner: Adam Woodgate
CENTRAL REGION CELLARBRATIONS RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2014
Store Name: Cellarbrations at Brighton
Store Suburb, State: Brighton, SA
Store Owner: Tim Rugless